The Challenge
To develop a bi-lingual, web-based environment for planning,
recording and reporting learners’ skills development for use by
schools in Wales.
The Solution
The Skills Profiles system is a tool for planning, recording and
reporting learners’ skills development in Thinking, Number and
Communication. Over the two year contract, Connect is delivering a
fully bi-lingual tool which also meets accessibility guidelines to
ensure access for all.
The system is being created through a phased development
approach. The first phase involved a pilot group of teachers in
Wales being able to access the infrastructure of the web
environment and trial some early functionality. The second phase
allows teachers to upload multi-media materials as supporting
evidence of learner achievement and also generate multi-media
reports. The third phase (due December 2009) will focus on the
administration and management of the large-scale data set.
Results
Feedback from the pilot to date has been extremely positive,
identifying the ease of use and simplicity of navigation around
this complex system. Janet Symes, Connect’s Deputy CEO says “This
is a very high profile project in Wales and a very exciting one for
Connect. By being involved from the inception of this innovation
and by using a phased approach we are able to evolve the system as
the needs of users and the Welsh Assembly Government emerge.”
The Client
Connect is contracted by the University of Liverpool,
specifically CRIPSAT (the Centre for Research in Primary Science
and Technology), as part of their contracts with the Welsh Assembly
Government (WAG) to develop the Skills Profiles and to prepare
optional materials to assess the development of learners’
thinking.